A tragic incident unfolded in Bangladesh on Monday, resulting in the loss of at least 17 lives and leaving around 100 individuals injured. The calamity occurred when two trains collided, and authorities express concerns that the casualty count may rise.
The collision transpired in the city of Bhairab, located in the eastern part of the country. It involved a freight train colliding with a passenger train that was traveling in the opposite direction, resulting in the derailment of two passenger carriages, as confirmed by officials.
Sadiqur Rahman, a government administrator in Bhairab, provided grim details, stating, “We have recovered 17 bodies. More than 100 people were injured.” He further emphasized the anticipation of a rising death toll, as rescuers continued to observe bodies trapped beneath overturned coaches.
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Efforts to aid the situation were set in motion, including the dispatch of a rescue train equipped with cranes.
Local residents and volunteers promptly rushed to the accident site, which occurred at approximately 4 pm (1000 GMT). The collision is believed to have happened when one train entered the same line as the other, according to Rahman.
Heart-wrenching scenes were captured in video footage broadcast by private Channel 24, depicting a large crowd of people at the accident site, many in tears as they searched for their loved ones. Nazmul Haque, a volunteer from the Red Crescent, reported that at least two individuals were successfully rescued from the overturned coaches.
Emergency services, including the fire department, police, and the elite Rapid Action Battalion security force, were deployed to the crash site to provide assistance.
Following this tragic incident, authorities in Bangladesh have initiated two separate investigations into the circumstances surrounding the collision. Appeals for blood donations from volunteers have also been made to support the injured.
Nazmul Islam, a general manager of the state-run Bangladesh Railway, which owns the train, indicated that the freight train had exceeded its signal, potentially contributing to the accident.
Train accidents are a recurring issue in Bangladesh, often attributed to factors such as inadequate signaling, negligence, aging tracks, and deteriorating infrastructure.
